The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury met the President of the UN General Assembly Serjan Kerim's at the UN Headquarters on April 1 in New York. During the meeting, he underscored the need for the UN to play a greater role in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of migrant workers, according to a message received here on Wednesday.

The foreign adviser said 'managed migration' can be an effective tool for poverty alleviation and development. Bangladesh in the last year sent 8,32,000 workers abroad which was a record and the remittance received home was US $ 7 billion which was also a new record, he said. He said if host societies are asked to be more responsive to the welfare needs of the migrant workers, it can be a 'win- win' situation for both sides. The UN could assist this process more effectively by bringing together all stakeholders, he said.

During the meeting, the subject of the millennium development goals summit scheduled to be held under UN auspices on 25 September this year was also discussed. Bangladesh would play a prominent role at that event, he assured the UNGA President, the message said.

President Kerim accepted with gratitude the invitation to visit Bangladesh and stated that he looked forward to visiting Dhaka in August this year.

He praised Bangladesh's role in facilitating UN reforms and contribution of the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Ismat Jahan as member of the Task Force on Security Council reforms.